2025 OBSERVER/Post-Journal Girls Soccer Player of the Year, Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove junior Julianna Roth. Photo courtesy of Steve Garvey

The Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove girls soccer team faced plenty of adversity this season, but a constant in the middle of the field througout the Golden Cougars’ success was junior captain Julianna Roth.

Roth fit the perfect description of box-to-box midfielder for Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove. She stepped up defensively when her team needed it, facilitated offense through the middle and even filled the net enough to be the team’s top scorer.

Last season, Roth and forward Kylie Kress were the 1-2 punch for the Golden Cougars as the team’s top scorers. However, this season an injury to Kress put more pressure on Roth.

Without its top striker, Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove needed goals from elsewhere and it was Roth stepping up.

In the first game without Kress, Roth scored a hat trick in a 5-0 Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 1 win over Jamestown. Then she scored twice and provided an assist in a 3-1 league victory over Fredonia, she added another goal in a 3-2 nonleague win against Pioneer and was at the middle of two clean sheets against Southwestern and Frewsburg.

Her efforts helped keep hopes for the league title alive, but ultimately a narrow 1-0 defeat against Portville ended the regular season.

Roth was named a First-Team all-star in CCAA Division 1, leading the Golden Cougars to a share of second place.

However, the big picture goal for Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove was to retain the Section VI Class B title.

In the opening playoff game, Roth scored two goals and picked up an assist in an 8-0 victory against Medina. Then, in the quarterfinals against Arkon, Roth scored and handed out an assist in a 3-0 victory.

Roth scored the first goal against Southwestern, setting the tone early in a 4-1 semifinal win to return to the sectional championship.

The Golden Cougars were in a rematch against Allegany-Limestone, another rubber match for a sectional title.

After an incredibly close contest, it was once again Roth and the Golden Cougars raising the banner as Class B champions. Just like last year, Kress scored the game-winning goal and it was assisted by Roth.

The 1-0 decision vaulted Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove back into the Far West Regionals and this season the Golden Cougars were more prepared for their Section V opponent.

Livonia dominated Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove in the first half of the regional, but in the final 40 minutes of regulation the Golden Cougars looked like a different team.

Roth helped spark that shift in momentum and it even looked like the Golden Cougars might advance to the state semifinals. However, Livonia held on and scored the winning goal shortly into overtime.

Roth’s season lasted a couple minutes longer than last year, but ended at the same stage with her as the team’s top scorer with 14 goals and six assists. She also earned a selection on the All-WNY Small School team for her efforts guiding the Golden Cougars to another sectional title.

After stepping up when her team was down and leading the Golden Cougars to another sectional title, Roth is the choice as the 2025 OBSERVER/Post-Journal Girls Soccer Player of the Year.